Swing



(No Model 3 D. M. SEGHLER.

SWING.

Patented June 29, 1897.

Laventor. W

PMOTO-LITNOY, wnsumoToN u c NITED STATES rrrcn.

DANIEL M. SEOI-ILER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SWING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,364, dated June 29,1897., Application filed March 5, 1897. $erial No. 626,126. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. SEoHLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Swings; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, whichform a part of this specification.

This invention relates to those swings whose backward motion is producedby the occupant of the seat bearing down on a footboard or treadle; andmy improvement comprises a ratchet attachment which enables the rider toraise or lower the front or free edge of said foot-board and withoutcompelling him to leave the seat or stop the swing. Consequently theposition of the foot-board with reference to the swing-seat can be veryreadily adjusted, so as to enable the rider to exercise the greatestpower with the least personal inconvenience, as hereinafter more fullydescribed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a swingembodying my improvements, the lower portion of one of the footboardsupports being broken away and said board shown in section. Fig. 2 is anenlarged horizontal section of said swing,taken directly above thefoot-board. Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of a ratchet-bar and aportion of its supporting-rod. Fig. 4 is an elevation of said bardetached from its rod. Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section of oneof the swing-rods. Fig. 6 is a similar section of said rod at the placewhere it is coupled to the swing-seat.

A represents a seat or chair to be occupied by a person who operates theswing, and B B are two parallel rear rods or bars to which said seat issecured, the upper ends of these bars being pivoted at b to a plate or apair of plates 0. This plate is capable of being securely attached to asuitable overhead supportsuch, for example, as the ceiling of a hall orporch. D D are other similar front bars or rods pivoted to said plate atd, these points of suspension d being preferably in rear of the otherpivots 19. Again, the front bars D D are practically of the same lengthas the rear supporting-bars B B and have applied to their inner oropposing sides sliding ratchet-bars E E, of which a detailed descriptionof one will answer for both, as they are precisely alike.

Referring, therefore, to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noticed that Erepresents a straight bar or plate with ratchet-teeth e projecting fromits inner face and having at its ends loops F F, adapted to slide freelyalong the bar D. G is a link or shackle hungin a box H, attached to theouter side of bar D and having an eye g, (more clearly seen in Fig. 5,)a cord or light chain I being carried up from this eye and fastened tosaid bar at i.

Directly above the lower loop F the bar E is perforated at e, theperforations of the two bars being for the admission of bolts J J, (seenin Fig. 2,) and said boltsbein engaged with the front ends of parallelcurved rails K K, whose rear ends are coupled to the rods B B at 76 L isa foot-board or treadle connecting the front ends of the rails K K.

This swing is operated by the rider or occupant of seat A pressing downupon the board L with his feet, thereby producing a backward motion ofthe entire apparatus, and as soon as the limit of oscillationis reachedthe pressure is removed. The swing then oscillates forward, and byrepeating the above-- described operations the seat A will gradually beraised higher and higher until the full limit of the swing is reached.It may be, however, that the board L is so low that the swinger cannotbring the full pressure of his feet to bear upon it; but this difficultycan be easily remedied by placing his toes under the rear edge of saidboard and then swinging it up. This elevation of the free edge of thefootboard carries the ratchet-bars E E along with it, and as soon as theproper height has been reached the shackles G G are allowed to engagewith the appropriate teeth of said bars. Consequently the foot-board isnow retained at the desired elevation and without compelling the riderto leave his seat while the adjustment is being effected; but if thefootboard should be too high the rider has only to grasp the cords I Iand by pulling on said cords release the shackles G G from theratchet-bars E E, after which act his toes are inserted under saidboard, and it, together with said ratchets E E, is allowed to descenduntil the proper position is reached. At this moment the shackles G Gengage with the appropriate teeth of the ratchets and thereby retain thefoot-board securely in its new position.

From the above description it is evident that by providing the bars'E Ewith six or eight ratchet-teeth the. footboard L can be so adjusted asto be retained at a height convenient for an adult or for a child.Finally, it is preferred to make the rods D D about square incross-section and have the loops F F fit snugly against them in orderthat the ratchets E E may never turn around said rods.

I claim as my invention- 1. A swing provided with a seat; a pair of rearsupports B, B, carrying said seat; a footboard K K L, applied to saidsupports; a pair of front supports D, D; ratchet-bars E E 6, adjustablealong said front supports, and having the free edge of said foot-boardcoupled to them; and shackles G G applied to said supports D, D, andcapable of being engaged with said ratchet-bars E E c, all as hereindescribed, and for the purpose stated.

2. The combination, in a swing, of a pair of rear supports having a seatand foot-board can be disengaged from their respective ratchets by therider occupying said seat, all as herein described.

3. The combination, in a swing, of the noncircular support D; theshackle G swinging from said support; and the ratchet-bar E 6, carriedby said shackle; said ratchet-bar being provided with integral loops F,F, that fit snugly around said support D, in the manner described, andfor the purpose set forth.

at. As a new article of manufacture, an adj usting device for swingfoot-boards, which device combines a metallic bar E, havingupwardly-inclined ratchet-teeth e, integral nonoiroular loops F F; aperforation 6, near the lower loop F, and a shackle G, adapted to engageunder said teeth, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL M. SECI] LER.

lVitnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, JOHN C. Roenns.

